Lisl Detlefsen

About the Book:

A child touchingly narrates the ups and downs of living with a parent who experiences mental illness.

Sometimes Mom soars like a kite. Other times the kite turns into a sail, and she's like a boat, bobbing along the waves, until water spills over the sides and she starts to sink. "I try to bail the water out," the child says, "but my bucket is too small or has a hole in it."

On a better day, Mom introduces the child to a "new friend" named Grace, a therapist. Grace explains that it's not the child's job to fix things. And Grace helps the child find coping strategies — talking, playing games and, especially, drawing as a creative outlet.

Gradually, the child begins to feel better when they're at home with Mom, where there are plenty of crayons and the comfort of a beloved pet to cuddle.

But the child has one big question. At the end of the story, they ask if they will sink or soar when they grow up. And while no one knows for sure, the child believes Grace who suggests that they now have the tools to weather whatever storms might come.

Reviewed by a children's psychiatrist for authenticity. Includes an author's note and a list of resources and helplines for mental health.

About the Author:

Lisl H. Detlefsen is the author of a growing number of picture books, including two new titles for fall. Still There Was Bread is a joyful, lyrical picture book celebration of a treasured family recipe and a delicious reminder that warm, fresh-baked food feels like a hug when you really need one, with art by David Soman, bestselling illustrator of Ladybug Girl. Each Day is a Gift gently reveals that while we can't choose what gifts we receive, we can choose how to use them, illustrated by Natalia Vasilica. Lisl lives on a family-owned cranberry marsh near Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin with her husband, two sons, and two cats. Visit her on the web at www.lislhdbooks.com.

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